Wringer



Y Jan. 19, 1926.

B. E. GETZ WRINGER Filed April 2S, 1924 L r-' l l Patented Jan. 19, 1926 UNITED STATES PATENTy OFFEQF.,

BENJAMIN E. GETZ, OF MORTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GETZ PO'WER VfAS-IER CO., OF MOR'ION, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WRINGER.

Application led April 26, 1924. Serial N'o. 709,1l1.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. GETZ, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Morton, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in IVringers, of which the following is a specifica-tion.

This invention has reference to wringers, such as are used in connection with washing machines, and it relates more particularly to wringers of the swinging type and to the wringer locking means therefor.

The inventio-n has for a further object to provide a new and improved means for locking the wringer frame to the main frame or support, against swinging movement in the direction of the torque imparted to the wringer frame by the driving shaft and gearing, but allo-wing a swinging movement in the opposite direction; such locking means being preferably of a frictional impinging type and therefore not confined to its operation at predetermined points, but operative at any point, and including a manual releasing means, wherebyv the locking means may be made inoperative and the wringer frame swung in either direction.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure l is an elevation of a Wringer frame and support, having my invention applied thereto, the wringer being shown in dotted lines, also the frame of a washing machine Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the wringer frame, the support and the locking means;

Figure 3 is a cross-section, in plan, as the same would appear on the line 3 3 Figure 2, the locking means released, and

Figure 4 is a cross-section, in plan, as the same would appear on the line 4 4 Figure 2, the locking means engaged.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

Locking means arranged to automatically lock the wringer frame to the main frame or support against swinging movement in the direction of the torque imparted to the wringer frame by the Idriving' shaft and gearing, but allowing' a swinging movement in the opposite direction, is not new, but all such devices, so far as I am aware, are either of the ratchet type or pawl and slot, which is similar to the ratchet, and devices of like character, which are operative only at predetermined points about the axis of the driving shaft for the wringer. My locking means differs from all such devices,

in that it is operative at any point about the axis of the shaft and being preferably of a friction gripping type its operation as a lock increases as the torque increases. Means are provided to release the locking means at will. Such a device is simple, inexpensive and very effective and provides a much safer device against the wringer swinging around and striking an attendant, doing bodily harm, than any such device with which I am familiar.

In the drawings, A designates the frame of a washing machine and B the wringer, both being preferably shown in dotted lines.

T ie wringer frame, to which the wringer is attached and with which the wringer swings about a vertical axis, is designated l including a housing 2 in which is enclosed the usual and ordinary reversing gearing, not shown, to operate the wringer rolls in reverse directions. From the housing 2 depends the vertically disposed sleeve 3 through which extends the vertically disposed driving shaft 4 adapted to impart movement from a source of power to the gearing in the housing 2, said sleeve having a bearing and rotatable in a tubular housing or frame 5 secured to the washing machine frame. Said frame or housing 5 is formed or providedcwith an annular flanged seat 6 opening out of its upper end, as shown, in which y1s arranged a split ring, comprising the semi-circular sections 7 adapted to have a frictional impingi'ng relation with the flange 6a of the flanged seat 6, as shown in Figure 4. The sleeve 3 of the housing 2 is formed or provided with an annular flange or plate 8 provided with preferably diametrically disposed radial slots 9, see Figure 2, the flange or plate 8 being adapted to overlie and rest on the flange 6a of the frame or housing 5 and be rotatedthereon as the=wringer swings about its vertical axis. vThe sleeve 3 is formed or provided with diametrically arranged radially disposed slots 10, which when the sleeve 3 is in position, as shown in Figure-2, will sirable to provide the two cam-like memlie in the same horizontal plane and coincide with thel annular seat f5. l.liforlring in the seat 6, between the meeting ends of the split ring sections 7 are cam shaped lugs 11 provided with fingers 12 operatively carried in the slots 10 in the sleeve 3. Such lugs are placed in working position, by inserting the fingers 12 into the slots 10 of the sleeve 3 and then telescoping the sleeve into the housing or frame 5. rlhe lugs 11 are preferably of a shape, whereby when the frame 1 and sleeve 3 are swung in one direction, such for instance as shown by the arrow in Figure Llthe lugs will cause a spreading oil the sections 7 of the split ring and cause said sections to -lirictionally impinge the flange 6 of the housing or frame l and leclr the frame and wringer in any desired position about the shaft 4. This position may be determined by the attendant through the actuation of stems 12 connected to the lugs 11 and passing up through the slots 9 ot the flange 8 of the housing 2. By pressing the stems toward the axis ot the shaft 4 the lugs 11 may be displaced between the meeting ends of the ring sections 7 so as to prevent a cam action on the ends of the ring sections 7 and thereby permit the frame 1 and sleeve 3 with the wringer to be swung in either direction. On the release of the stems 12 the walls of the slots 10` in the sleeve 3, when it is swung in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4t will, through a cam-like action between the lugs 11 and the ends of the ring sections l cause the ring sections to frictionally impinge with or grip the flange 6ZL and lock the wringer against movement in one direction. The cam-like construction of the lugs 11 is such that when the frame 1 and sleeve 3 are swung in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, pressure on the ends of the ring sect-ions 7 is relieved and the sections 7 released Yfrom impinging relation with the flange li, permitting rotation ofl the wringer in such direction. Actuation of the control stems 12 will permit the swinging of the wringer, in either direction, as explained. Also it is apparent that the lock has no limitations as to position and will act quickly and automatically against the torque incident to driving the wringer rolls through the shaft el..

lvlliile I have shown the ring in two sections, with cam-like members acting between the ends thereof', it should be obvious that could use a single split ring with cam-like members operating between its respective ends and the same results accomplished therewith. An attendant will ordinarily grasp the depending portion of the frame 1 within the hand and it is therefore debers and releasing means, as shown.

What l claim is 1. 1n a swinging wringer, a tubular support provided with an annular flanged seat opening out of its upper end, a wringer trame swingable on said support and provided with a tubular sleeve journaled in said support, a sectional gripping ring arranged within said seat, cam-lilre members between said rings arranged to be operated by said frame, when the frame is swung in one direction to cause said ring members to frictionally impinge with the flange of said seat. and manually operable means to4 release raid cam-like members, whereby said iframe may be swung in either direction.

ln a swinging wringer, in combination, a swingable frame provided with `a depending vertically disposerL sleeve, a support forming a bearing for said sleeve and in which the latter may be rotated, annular arranged frictional gripping means between the sleeve and support and adapted to have an impinging locking relation with said support, means operated by the movement ol the sleeve in one direction to cause saitV gripping means to set up a locking relation with said support, and manually controlled means for releasing said locking means at will to permit said frame to be swung in either direction.

8. ln a swinging wringer, in combination, a tubular support provided with a flanged seat opening out of one end, a frame having a tubular sleeve swingably journaled in said tubular support with slots in its wall in coincidence with said flanged seat and provided with an annular plate overlying said flanged seat with radially disposed slots, a sectional ring arranged in said flanged seat and adapted to have a frictional impinging relation with the flange to lock the frame against swinging movement in one direction, cam-like lugs disposed between said ring sections and having eXtensions operating in the slots in said sleeve, the shape of said lugs being such that when the sleeve is rotated in one direction they will act on the ends of said ring sections to spread the same into locking relation with. said flange, and when the sleeve is rotated in the opposite direction, said lugs will shift their position and release said ring sections, and finger grips associated with said lugs and passing out through the slots in said annular plate, whereby the lugs may be released at will to permit rotation of said frame in either direction.

fn witness whereof, l have hereunto afrged my hand this 21st day of April, 1924.

BENJAMIN E4 GETZ. 

